Wide angle spray nozzle

ABSTRACT

A SPRAY NOZZLE INCLUDES A GENERALLY CUP-SHAPED BODY HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL BOUNDING A LENGTHWISE PASSAGE OF UNIFORM DIAMETER ALONG ITS LENGTH AND TERMINATING IN AN INTERGRAL END WALL. THE END WALL HAS A CENTRAL CIRCULAR OPENING AND A PAIR OF SLOTS RADIALLY EXTENDING THEREFROM TO PROVIDE A CRUCIFORM-SHAPED DISCHARGE ORIFICE LEADING OUTWARDLY FROM THE PASSAGE. THE SLOTS EXTEND INTO THE CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL TO PROVIDE SIDE DISCHARGE EXIT PATHS FROM THE PASSAGE. A PROTECTIVE BLOW-OFF CAP IS SEATED ON THE NOZZLE END.

Sept. 20, 1971 F. w. WEST WIDE ANGLE SPRAY NOZZLE Filed Aug. 21. 1969 n Mass? INVENTOR Frank W West /ay FIG. 3

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United States Patent 3,606,169 WIDE ANGLE SPRAY NOZZLE Frank W. West, Newington, Conn., assignor to Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn. Filed Aug. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 851,803 Int. Cl. Bb 1/10 US. Cl. 239-597 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spray nozzle includes a generally cup-shaped body having a cylindrical side wall bounding a lengthwise passage of uniform diameter along its length and terminating in an integral end wall. The end wall has a central circular opening and a pair of slots radially extending therefrom to provide a cruciform-shaped discharge orifice leading outwardly from the passage. The slots extend into the cylindrical side wall to provide side discharge exit paths from the passage. A protective blow-off cap is seated on the nozzle end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the spraying of solid materials and more particularly relates to an improved nozzle of inexpensive construction for providing a uniformly dense, wide angle spray.

Present spray heads or nozzles intended for use in the spraying of dry material, such as chemical fire extinguishing powders, are of relatively complex structural design requiring precision machining or inter-acting component elements which materially increase the cost of the nozzle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved nozzle for shaping the spray so as to afford extremely wide angle, uniformly dense distribution of dry material, such nozzle being of simple and inexpensive construction.

In accordance with the present invention an improved spray nozzle includes a generally cup-shaped body having a side wall structure bounding a central lengthwise passage and terminating in an integral end wall. The end wall has a central circular opening and a pair of slots radially extending therefrom to provide a generally cruciform-shaped discharge orifice leading outwardly from the passage. The slots extend edgewise from the end wall longitudinally into the side wall structure to afford both endwise and sidewise discharge from the passage thereby providing an extremely wide angle spray configuration.

The slots in the region of the end wall are beveled to further promote a circular and uniform distribution of the discharge.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows structure embodying preferred features of the present invention and the principles thereof, and what is now con sidered to be the best mode in which to apply these principles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the spray nozzle constructed in accordance with the present invention and connected with a discharge supply pipe.

FIG. 2 is a view of the discharge end of the spray nozzle of FIG. 1;

3,606,169 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the nozzle showing the safety cap attached to the nozzle end thereof;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view, greatly reduced, showing the discharge end of the spray nozzle and the shape of the spray produced thereby; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the nozzle of the present invention as incorporated with a fire extinguishing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, the nozzle 10 of the present invention comprises a generally cup-shaped body 12 having a cylindrical side wall 14 bounding a central lengthwise passage 16 of substantially uniform diameter to provide a discharge chamber and terminating in an integral end wall 1 8. The region of the passage 16 remote from the end wall 18 is threaded as indicated at 19 so that the nozzle 10 can be secured in nut-like fashion to an externally threaded discharge supply pipe 11.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the nozzle 10 provides an extremely rapid wide angle spray of circular pattern having substantially uniform deposit throughout the entire circle.

It has been found that such a spray is accomplished by providing a relatively small central circular opening 20 through end wall 18 and intersecting the opening 20 with a pair of end slots 22, 24 that are cut through the end wall 18 at right angles to each other to define a generally cruciform-shaped discharge orifice leading outwardly of the passage 16. The cruciform orifice spans the full Width of the end wall 18 and has its end slots out to a depth exceeding the thickness of the end wall 18 to provide axially elongated side slits 26 to 29 opening through the side wall 14 and serving as discharge side exit paths from the passage 16.

Thus, the cruciform orifice provides for both endwise and sidewise discharge from the discharge chamber to promote a uniform extremely wide angle discharge of the solid spray material. To further promote the desired wide angle effect, the slots 22, 24 are defined by a beveled edge configuration so that the width of the slots increases from the interior of end wall 18 to the exterior surface thereof.

As shown in FIG. 6, the nozzle 10 of the present invention is particularly suitable as a duct nozzle in commercial kitchen fire extinguishing systems. Briefly, the duct 30 is that part of an exhaust system that is connected at the top of a hood 32 to convey exhaust fumes from kitchen grease vats and the like to the exterior of the building. Such ducts develop a grease or other flammable buildup. To extinguish fire in such ducts, it has been the practice to permanently mount a conduit system 34 typically comprising /2" pipe leading from a fire extinguisher (not shown) interiorly of the duct near the hood 32. The effectiveness of the fire extinguishing agents has been found to be dependent upon the ability of the nozzle to quickly diffuse the substance throughout the entire duct width.

For purposes of illustrative disclosure, a preferred embodiment of the nozzle of the present invention as shown herein for use as a duct nozzle in a kitchen fire extinguishing system incorporating /2" pipe, comprises a length of 1 5 diameter black iron or the equivalent material which is suitably drilled to provide the discharge chamber or passage 16 and tapped for threaded connection with the /2" pipe. The cruciform orifice comprises a diameter opening 20 and A wide end slots 22, 24 which are beveled toprovide a slot width at the outer face of the end wall '18. The elongated side slits 26 to 29 extend A" from the outer face of the end wall into the side wall 14. Such nozzzle has been found to produce a circular spray capable of covering 36" x 18" rectangular duct within a range of 6 inches from the nozzle orifice.

In order to protect the nozzle 10 from accumulating grease or other substances which might block the orifice, a suitably flexible cup-shaped cap 36 (FIG. 4) of plastic material is fitted over the orifice end of the nozzle. It will be noted that the side walls of the cap 36 extend sufliciently to cover the elongated slits 26 to 29 in the side wall 14. The protective cap 36 will automatically be blown off the nozzle upon discharge of the solid material from the extinguisher.

While there has been described and shown a particular embodiment of the nozzle in accordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Wide angle, dry powder, spray nozzle comprising a one-piece generally cup-shaped body having a cylindrical side wall defining an interior cylindrical passage of substantially uniform longitudinal cross section of large diameter relative to the thickness of the side wall and terminating in an integral substantially planar end wall, said end wall being'of a thickness of the same order as the thickness of the side wall and having a pair of diametral end slots to provide a plurality of sector shaped end Wall portions that collectively define a generally cruciform-shaped discharge orifice leading outwardly from said passage through said end wall, the opposed extremes of each of said end slots extending into said side wall to define a set of discharge side exit paths leading outwardly from said passage through said side wall.

2. Wide angle, dry powder, spray nozzle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said body includes a threaded portion bodrering said passage for mating connection with suitable threaded discharge supply means.

3. Wide angle, dry powder, spray nozzle in accordance with claim 1, and further including a central circular opening located at the intersection of said end slots, and wherein each of said end slots has a width varying from approximately the diameter of said circular opening at the outer face of said end wall to approximately /3 the diameter of said circular opening at the inner face of said end wall.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,305,210 12/1942 Wahlin 239Dig. 1 2,325,008 7/1943 Gruett 239 597 2,944,743 7/1960 Kachergis 239Dig. 1 3,401,888 9/1968 Sutter 239 s68 1,681,230 8/1928 Gooseide 239 s97 2,985,386 5/1961 Steiner 239 s97 3,398,899 8/1968 Fry 239 s97 FOREIGN PATENTS 241,311 11/1910 Germany 239-s97 M. HENSON WOOD, 1a., Primary Examiner R. W. THIEME, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 239-568, Dig. 1 

